Personal Finance
Towards a Healthier Financial Future
Topic: "Investments"
← Curating the web to find the most interesting and helpful
information about your money.
Investing
Ways to supercharge your CD investments
CDs offer a guaranteed interest rate that’s typically higher than a savings account, and you get the safety of FDIC insurance to ensure your money will be there when you need it. They’re not right for every situation, but they can be an effective way to save for short-term goals or create a predictable stream of income.
How to find the best CDs to invest in →Infographic of the week
Visualizing 30 Years of Investor Sentiment
The link between investor sentiment and the stock market is not linear. In fact, many consider extreme sentiment readings as a contrarian indicator. If sentiment swings sharply in one direction, some investors may consider this a signal to do the reverse.
Investor sentiment and U.S. stock prices over modern history →Investing
How to Invest in ETFs for Beginners
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are an easy way to begin investing. ETFs are fairly simple to understand and can generate impressive returns without much expense or effort.
Here’s what you should know about ETFs and how they work →Infographic of the week
The 20 Most Common Investing Mistakes, in One Chart
No one is immune to errors, including the best investors in the world. Fortunately, investing mistakes can provide valuable lessons over time, providing investors an opportunity to gain insights into investing—and build more resilient portfolios.
20 Investment Mistakes to Avoid →Investing
What Is the Fear and Greed Index?
The Fear and Greed Index is a tool developed by CNN (yes, the news network) to help gauge what factors are driving the stock market at a given time.
Guide to the Fear and Greed Index →Word of the week
Annuity
An annuity is a type of insurance contract in which the insured (you) and the insurer (insurance firm) agree that the insurer will pay you either on a regular basis or one-time disbursements to you as a payout for your contributions. Usually, people utilize an annuity as a retirement income source.
Use our free retirement calculator to see how an annuity make get you closer to your goals →Serious stuff
Should I still be investing in this uncertain stock market? Uncertainty is a normal – even necessary – part of investing, but it becomes a problem when people spend so much time worrying that they miss out on market returns.
Four tips for nervous investors from Benjamin Felix →Word of the week
Financial Exposure
Investor risk, which is defined as the possible loss an investor may incur by investing, is referred to as financial exposure. Investors use strategies like investment hedging and diversification to try to reduce their financial exposure.
Take your first steps into the investment world without risking losing any money →Investing
ScotiaFunds: 5 timeless tips on managing market ups and downs
1. Keep calm and carry on 2. Stay invested…it’s time, not timing 3. Manage risk, don't avoid it 4. Put diversification to work 5. Take advantage of dollar-cost averaging
Learn more from their easy to read resource →Word of the week
Diversification
A fundamental investing strategy that distributes investment funds among multiple asset classes is diversification.
What Is Diversification? Definition as Investing Strategy →Investing
How to Invest in Bonds
Bonds are a way for an organization to raise money. Let's say your town asks you for a certain investment of money. In exchange, your town promises to pay you back that investment, plus interest, over a specified period of time.
A Beginner's Guide to Buying Bonds →Infographic of the week
Warren Buffett's Portfolio Visualized
Warren Buffet is probably best known for being one of the world’s most successful investors. See what Berkshire Hathaway are holding and learn from the legendary value investor known as the 'Oracle of Omaha'.
How They Make Money: Why the Oracle of Omaha tends to bet on the status quo →Investing
How to Invest Like Warren Buffett
Want to emulate Buffett’s investment strategy? Morningstar has compiled work on the approach he and partner Charlie Munger have pursued at Berkshire Hathaway. (Stock symbols BRK.A and BRK.B)
Delve into Warren Buffett’s investment strategy →Word of the week
Asset Allocation
Asset allocation is where you choose to put your money. The three primary asset classes are stocks, bonds, and cash. Choose those that best match your goals, risk tolerance, and time schedule.
Neontra aggregates and tracks all your assets in one place so you can monitor your allocation easily →Infographic of the week
Ranked: The 20 Best Franchises in the U.S.
The U.S. is famous for chain restaurants, franchised shops, and brand name hotels. One thing these franchises aim for is consistency in store feel, customer service, product offerings, and prices, no matter which state you’re in.
Best franchises in the U.S. worth owning, from Dunkin’ Donuts to ... →Infographic of the week
How Long Does it Take to Double Your Money?
At first glance, a 7% return on your investment may not seem that impressive. Yet what if you heard that your money could double in roughly 10 years?
Why it Pays to Know the Math →Infographic of the week
Just 7 Companies Dominate the Nasdaq 100
Launched in 1985, the Nasdaq 100 index tracks the performance of the largest, and most actively-traded, non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange.
Companies in the Nasdaq 100, by Weight →Infographic of the week
Timing the Market: Why It’s So Hard, in One Chart
Timing the market seems simple enough: buy when prices are low and sell when they’re high.
The Pitfalls of Timing the Market →Did you know?
The first War Savings Certificates and Victory Bonds were issued in Canada during the First and Second World Wars. They went towards paying for the war effort.
Browse through the gallery and view the timeline to learn about the History of Canada Savings Bonds. →Word of the week
Interest
Typically, interest is paid on deposits to savings accounts. Your savings will increase as a result of the interest you earn on money you save, particularly if you have a higher-interest savings account. Simple interest - is paid on some investments and does not take into account the interest that has been added to the account; rather, it calculates interest just on the original amount. These investments often have a slightly higher interest rate. Compound interest - is the interest on savings calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods. Compound interest is the norm for savings accounts.
See an example of how simple and compound interest differ →Infographic of the week
The World’s Biggest Mutual Fund and ETF Providers
The global net assets of mutual fund and ETF providers totalled $38 trillion in 2022. Despite its massive size, the industry is dominated by a relatively small number of brands.
This graphic uses data from Morningstar to show the largest fund brands and their growth rates in 2022 →Word of the week
Bonds
Governments and businesses both issue bonds as a form of investment. In exchange for a predetermined rate of return, you lend money to these organizations when you purchase a bond. Although historically yielding less than stocks, bonds are thought to be a safer kind of investment.
How to Buy Bonds in Canada →Investing
Motley Fool outlines Warren Buffett's investing philosophy in 9 steps
1. Look for a margin of safety 2. Focus on quality 3. Don't follow the crowd 4. Don't fear market crashes and corrections 5. Approach your investments with a long-term mindset 6. Don't be afraid to sell if the scenario changes 7. Learn the basics of value investing 8. Understand compounding 9. Research and reflect
How to Invest Like Warren Buffett →Infographic of the week
Visualizing the Hierarchy of Financial Needs
Behavioural scientist Abraham Maslow wrote “A Theory of Human Motivation” in 1943, arguing that humans worldwide are influenced by a “hierarchy of needs”. This theory organizes human needs across five levels, where needs in the lower end must be satisfied before progressing onto the next level.
See the steps to creating a strong financial foundation →Investing
Financial advisors agree: These are the 3 best investing tips for beginners
CNBC Select shares three tips for any beginner investor just starting out. 1) Audit your finances before you even start to invest 2) Utilize retirement accounts as much as you can 3) Know you don’t have to be an expert
If you’re just getting into investing, read more →Investing
3 common mistakes investors make — and how to avoid them
In our daily lives, we know it’s hard to break bad habits, like eating too much junk food. The same is true for investing. Just as understanding which foods are better for you, knowledge is power when it comes to your portfolio.
Nobody’s perfect, especially when it comes to investing →Investing
Investing can seem intimidating
Fortune.com outlines how to get started: - Decide your investment goals - Select investment vehicle(s) - Calculate how much money you want to invest - Measure your risk tolerance - Consider what kind of investor you want to be - Build your portfolio - Monitor and rebalance your portfolio over time
A beginner’s guide to investing in the stock market →Infographic of the week
The most profitable U.S. companies, by sector
See the S&P 500 companies with the highest profits in their sector. Data is based on the fiscal year ending on or before January 31, 2023 across companies in the Fortune 500.
America’s most profitable companies, by sector →Investing
Millennials: 4 Tips to Start Investing Today
1. Build your credit 2. Open a TFSA 3. Invest what you can 4. Set some goals
Here are some tips to get started from Motley Fool →Infographic of the week
The Fastest Rising Asset Classes in 2023
Many corners of the market have shown resilience despite persistent inflation and slowing economic growth in 2023. U.S. equities, international equities, and a variety of bonds have seen positive returns so far this year.
The top-performing asset classes to date with data from BlackRock →Investing
Investing for Young Canadians
If you’re a young person thinking about making your first investment but not sure where to begin, you’re not alone.
RRSP, TFSA or FHSA? Young Canadians looking to invest face wide range of options →Investing
9 easy steps to start investing in Canada:
1. Assess your risk tolerance 2. Choose Your Investing Style 3. Decide How Much You Can Invest 4. Pick the Right Kind of Stock Investments 5. Choose a broker 6. Open the right investment account 7. Diversify Your Stocks 8. Keep a Steady Eye on Your Portfolio 9. Invest Consistently for the Long-Term
How to Start Investing in Canada: 9 Steps to Success →Word of the week
ETFs: Exchange-Traded Funds
An ETF is essentially a basket of investments such as stocks or bonds. In this sense they’re similar to mutual funds, but unlike mutual funds, shares of ETFs can be traded throughout the day on an exchange, much like an individual stock.
Learn about the benefits of ETFs →Infographic of the week
Just 20 Stocks Have Driven S&P 500 Returns So Far in 2023
Truman Du shows which stocks are making up the vast majority of S&P 500 returns amid AI market euphoria and broader market headwinds.
Tech and AI stocks have soared as ChatGPT became a household name in 2023 →Investing
ETF vs Index Fund: Which Should Canadians Invest In?
Learn the differences between ETFs and index funds and determine which fund is right for you.
ETF vs Index Fund →Word of the week
Compound Interest
Compound interest is the interest on savings calculated on both the initial principal and the accumulated interest from previous periods.
Discover the magic of compounding and why it's important to increasing wealth →Fun stuff
"If I had a million dollars Well, I'd buy you some art (a Picasso or a Garfunkel)"
Which artist is #1 on our Neontrack playlist this week?
Listen to our Neontrack playlist when you have music and money on your mind.
Word of the week
GIC (Guaranteed Investment Certificate)
"Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs) and term deposits are secured investments. This means that you get back the amount you invest at the end of your term. The key difference between a GIC and a term deposit is the length of the term. Term deposits generally have shorter terms than GICs."
Learn about the key details before buying a GIC →